Controlling device for self-playing pianos.



R. J. BENNETT. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 25. 1909.

992,149. Patented May 1&1911.

IIITE SATES PTENT Q.

ROBERT J'. BENNETT, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO ARTISTA PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF-PLAYING PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatcnted May 16, 1911.

Application filed August 25, 1909. Serial No. 514,470.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controlling Devices for Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to player pianos, or piano players, as the case may be, and has for its object the combination of certain de- .vices for operating the mechanism controlling the automatic or mechanical playing into a convenient arrangement that may be entirely concealed when not in use, and which will at the same time take up but little space within the instrument.

A further object is the arrangement of the controlling levers and devices in strong and compact form, and in such shape as to be least liable to get out of working order.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my invention, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my device, with cover turned back. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of my device. view on line A1 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the controlling levers.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings6 represents the key slip of a player piano cut away at 7, forming a rectangular cavity within which is seated a metallic frame or casing 8. A swinging cover 9 is mounted to cover the cavity when the devices are not in use. A pair of ears 10 extend inwardly from the casing 8 and a post 11 having an enlarged slotted head 12 passes through an opening in the ear and the bottom 13. A channeled member 14- surrounds the post 11 between the ear and the bottom 13, provided with arms or lugs l516. A latch or finger 17 is pivotally mounted in the slot 18 in the head 12, and is provided with an car 19 adapted to fit within a slot 20 in the upturned end 21 of the arm 15. Rods or wires 2223 connect the end of the lever arm 16 Fig. 4 represents a sectional with means for operating the automatic playing. It will be noted that the post 11 fits loosely within the member 14, but when the lug 19 is dropped into the slot 20 (as shown in Fig. 4) the members are locked together and the swinging of the latch 17 turns the arm or lever 16, thus controlling the automatic playing. The latch is provided with a horizontal lower edge 24 resting on and moving freely over the face of the casing.

The inner end of the finger or latch pivoted within the slot 18 is circular, as shown at 26, so that the latch or finger, when lifted out of the slot 20 may be turned clownwardly within the cavity 7, the edge of the latch being flush with the top of the casing.

The cover 9 is mounted on the pivot 28, and is adapted to cover the cavity when the automatic player is not in use. No parts are exposed to indicate that any mechanism is located in the key-slip. The parts will then occupy the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. I have provided two keys constructed and operated as described.

In the use of my device, I employ one finger or latch,for instance, that on the leftas a tempo regulator, and the other as a combined rewind and skip key, the con nections with the automatic playing mechanism being such that when the second key is turned to the left it will set in operation the rewind mechanism, while when turned to the right it will operate as a skip key.

I do not limit myself to any particular number of fingers or to their use for the purpose indicated. Any number can be provided and a plurality of recesses may be provided if required in the controlling of the various action and expression devices in a piano, organ or like instrument, or in a portable player therefor. My invention thus contemplates the bringing together in compact form, as shown, of devices for operating the mechanism controlling the automatic or mechanical playing.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument of the class described, a recessed key slip, controlling devices located therein comprising a plurality of pivoted arms, and means for actuating said arms.

2. In a musical instrument of the class described, a recessed key slip, controlling devices located therein comprising a pluice rality of pivoted arms, and movable fingers adapted to operate said arms.

3. In a player piano, a recessed key slip, an upright post mounted therein, an arm pivoted on said post and connected with the automatic player mechanism, and means for shifting the position of said arm, thereby controlling the operation of said mechanism.

4:. In a player piano, automatic player mechanism, a recessed key slip, an upright post mounted therein, a sleeved casting surrounding said post, a pair of arms projecting from said casting, one of which is connected with the automatic player mechanism, and a finger hingedly mounted on said post and adapted to engage the other arm.

5. In a player piano, player mechanism, a recessed key slip, an ear extending inwardly therefrom, a post loosely mounted in said ear, a vertically hinged finger mounted on said post, a sleeved casting loosely mounted on said post and provided with a pair of arms, one of which arms is connected with the player mechanism,and the other adapted to be engaged by said finger, whereby the position of said connecting arm may be changed and the player mechanism controlled.

6. In a player piano, player mechanism, a key slip, a recess therein, an ear extending inwardly therefrom, a post loosely mounted in said ear, a vertically hinged finger mount ed on said post, a sleeved casting loosely mounted on said postand provided with a pair of arms one of which arms is connected with the player mechanism and the other adapted to be engaged by said finger, said finger being mounted on said post and adapted to drop within said recess when out of engagement with said arm.

Signed by me at Rock Island, Illinois this 20th day of August 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT. lVitnesses:

IVILLIAM E. THOMPSON, SHERMAN W. SEARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

